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Michael Bennett Talks Contract: ‘If You Don’t Think I’m Valuable, Then Just Get Rid Of Me’

SANTA CLARA, CA - OCTOBER 22: Michael Bennett #72 of the Seattle Seahawks celebrates after a sack of Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium on October 22, 2015 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

SEATTLE (CBS/1090 The Fan) — Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett remains unhappy with his current contract situation, he revealed in an interview with The Huffington Post‘s Jordan Schultz.

Bennett’s feelings about his contract aren’t news — before the start of the 2015 season, many fans feared the defensive end would hold out of training camp. Bennett, though, participated throughout camp.

“I’ve got three kids. I’ve got a wife,” he said at the time. “My wife wouldn’t let me hold out, so I had to come to work.”

Already, Bennett told 710 ESPN in Seattle that he has no intentions of holding out during the Seahawks’ 2016 training camp — but it doesn’t mean he’s happy with his deal.

“The problem now for Bennett is that he’s stuck in a contract that leaves him woefully underpaid,” Schultz writes.

Bennett signed a four-year, $28.5 million contract with Seattle in 2014 — an average salary of $7.125 million. According to Spotrac, the deal ranks 25th among all defensive ends in cash value, and 19th in average salary.

Through three seasons with the Seahawks, Bennett has recorded 25.5 sacks, 82 tackles, 48 assists, and 7 forced fumbles. Bennett’s 292 quarterback pressures through the past four seasons rank second in the league, just behind Houston’s J.J. Watt, according to NFL.com. According to Schultz, no other 4-3 defensive end recorded more pressures (91) last season.

Bennett’s age adds additional context to his contract dispute. At 30, Bennett could command (and deliver) more than he would at age 32-33.

“It’s been super hard, because you want to be a great teammate and you want to take care of your family,” Bennett told Schultz. “You want to find a balance.”